Orange-sorting machine



2 sheets sheet 1.

(No Model.)

P. L. BILLINGSLEY. ORANGE SORTING MACHINE.

No. 508,911, Patented Nov. 21,1893.

Invenior W177: eases;

(No Modl. 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

P. L. BILLING-SLE-Y. ORANGE SORTING MACHINE. v

No. 508,911. Patented Nov. 21,1893.

Wfiin eosea; W07" I NrTE STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PERCY L. BILLINGSLEY, OF REDDIOK, FLORIDA.

ORANGE-SORTING MAVCHINEP ePEoIFIcATIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 508,911, dated November 21'. 1893. Anplioationfiled June 13, 1893. Serial No. 477,410- .No model.)

Toall whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PERCY L. BILLINGSLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Reddick, in the county of Marion and State of Florida, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Orange- Sorting Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in orange-sorting, sifting, or grading machines.

The invention will first be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, and

then particularly pointed out in the claims. 7

In the drawingsFigure 1 is a top-plan view of a machine embodying m invention, showing one-half of hopper and distributing wheel removed. Fig. 2 is a front view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on line 00-00 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the machine, with the hopper and distributing Wheel removed, showing the eccentricity of the grooved track, and also, the straight closing rail.

Referring to the drawings, A is a framework, consisting of corner-posts 1, plates 2, front and rear cross-braces 3, and bearing braces 4. A step-brace 5 extends from the front to the rear cross-brace, as shown.

In thebearing-braces 4 is mounted a revoluble driving-shaft B, journaled at 6, and provided at its inner end with a bevel gear-wheel 7, its outer end being provided with a crank 8, or other suitable device for imparting motion to the machine. The gear-wheel 7 meshes into a bevel pinion 9 fixed to a vertical shaft 0, which is stepped at 10 on the step-brace.

On top of the plates 2 is secured a top D, having a semicircular inner edge 11 and a straight extension 12. Ashortdistance below the top is secured a shelf E at the front of the machine, on which shelf is located a series of pockets F, consisting of partitions 13 and slanting bottom pieces 14.

To the top of the table is secured a grooved track or channel G, preferably consisting of a series of segments 15, each secured to the table by lugs or feet 16 through which screws or bolts may be passed. This track or channel is located eccentrically with regard to the central axis of the vertical shaft 0. A straight closing-rail H is secured to the top of the table on the extension 12.

To the top end of the vertical shaft 0 1s secured a distributingwheel I, which has a series of circular dropping-holes 17, and below each hole is secured a slideway K,having a central opening, V-shaped at one end, as at 18, and semicircular at the other end, as at 19. across and limits the size of the circular opening 17, while the semicircular portion 19 is flush with the side of its respective dropping opening or hole. A slide or gate-L is located in the slideway K and arranged to move in or out in a radial direction with relation to the distributing wheel, the inner end of each slide or gate being V-shaped, as at 20, and adapted to project across the circular opening. The bottom of each slide L has a downward-extending lug 21, arranged to enter the grooves in the track G.

At the rear of the machine is placed a hopper M, of any suitable shape and provided with an outlet-spout 22 in which is located a gate 23 pivoted at 24 the end of whlch extends beyond the end of the spout and rests on the end of the bottom of the spout and top of the distributing-wheel until struck by one of the radial strips 25, secured to the top of the distributing-wheel between the droppingholes.

The operation of my apparatus is as follows: The hopper M is filled with oranges to be sorted. The machine being setin mot1on by power applied to the driving-shaft, the distributing-wheel is revolved, and as each radial rib or strip 25 comes around it contacts with, and swings outward, the pivoted gate or cut-ofi 23 thus allowing the oranges to drop out, one at a time, into the dropping-holes, each orange being prevented from falling through the hole by the V-shaped portion 18 of the slideway K and by the V-shaped portion 20 of the gate L, which at the point be low the hopper is closed to itsex'treme lim t. As the wheel rotates it carriesthe oranges around with it, and as the lug 21 moves 1n the grooved track G, which, being eccentric to the wheel, keeps increasing in distance from the center of the wheel, the slide or gate L isgradually drawn out, thus increasing the The V- shaped portion 18 projects size of the opening between its inner end and the V-shaped portion 18, of the slideway K; when this opening becomes sufficient in size, the orange drops through into one of the pockets below, from whenceit rolls down the inclined bottom into suitable receptacles.

From this description it will be apparent that as the wheel revolves the slides or gates are gradually drawn out to their extreme outward limit by the grooved track. The Wheel still revolving carries the lugs clear of the grooved track, which does not extend all the way around, and a further movement of said wheel brings. the lugs around into contact with the straight closing-rail H, which forces the slide inward again, thus closing the openings and allowing the lugs to enter the groove in the track at the beginning of the spiral.

The number of pockets and the eccentric arrangement of the track may be varied as desired, according to the number of gradations of the oranges that may be necessary.

Having thus fully described my invention, whatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an orange sorter, the combination, with a distributing wheel provided with dropping openings, a slideway secured to the wheel directly under each of the said openings, an opening in the slideway one half of which conforms in size and shape to the dropping openings, the other half being angular, partly closing the dropping openings, a gate having a V-shaped opening in its inner end and sliding in each slideway and a depending lug on the outer end of said gate. of a grooved guide rail secured to the table eccentric to the distributing wheel and extending partly around the table, and a straight closing rail situated between the ends of the guide rail, the depending lugs engaging first the curved guide rail and then the straight closing rail, as the distributing wheel revolves, substantially as shown and described.

2. In an orange sorter, the combination, with a revoluble distributing wheel havinga series of dropping openings, and a series of radial ribs secured to the upper side thereof between said openings, of a hopper located above the wheel and provided with a spout, a pivoted gate in the spout, the free end of which rests normally on the end of the bottom of the spout and the top of the wheel between the radial ribs and arranged to be raised by contact with the ribs as the wheel revolves substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PERCY L. BILLINGSLEY.

Witnesses: V

J NO. W. FIFE, ED. RURE. 

